Visitors during the 2010 Olympics may be able to enjoy a late-night cocktail with their meal as Vancouver looks to adjust its “archaic” booze laws.
Next Thursday, city council will consider a motion that would extend alcoholic drink service hours for restaurants.
“Our liquor laws are sometimes a bit archaic,” said Vision Coun. Heather Deal. “It’s like Vancouver is still growing up in some ways.”
In neighbouring jurisdictions, like Burnaby and Richmond, restaurants can serve alcohol until 2 a.m., Deal said. In Vancouver, the motion would allow drinks to be served until 1 a.m. on weekdays and 2 a.m. on weekends.
Restaurants will have to pay a fee to extend the alcohol service hours and will still need to serve food with drinks. If passed, the new rules will take effect at the start of the year.
“It means that people will have more of a variety of places they can go.
“After a movie, you don’t have to go downtown, you can stay in your neighbourhood. You could go down to the local bistro and have some nachos and beer after a movie.”
